Francesco, giullare di Dio
Italy
1950
87 Min
Black and White
Italian
3 Views
Synopsis
In a series of simple and joyous vignettes, director Roberto Rossellini and co-writer Federico Fellini lovingly convey the universal teachings of the People’s Saint: humility, compassion, faith, and sacrifice. Gorgeously photographed to evoke the medieval paintings of Saint Francis’s time, and cast with monks from the Nocera Inferiore Monastery, The Flowers of St. Francis is a timeless and moving portrait of the search for spiritual enlightenment. —The Criterion Collection
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Dave Blakeslee
4Dec09
The essence of Franciscan spirituality that Rossellini sought to convey was how it blended a deep and heartfelt humility with self-effacing silliness. To read my full write-up on The Flowers of St. Francis:
http://criterionreflections.blogspot.com/2009/12/flowers-of-st-francis-1950-293.html
Daniel
3Dec09
It’s always intimidating to give an opinion about a film praised by so eminent filmmakers and critics : “The Most Beautiful Film of the World” wrote Truffaut for instance. What can I say after that ?
I never had the opportunity to watch this film until recently, partly because I’m not particularly interested in Roberto Rossellini (I prefer Fellini, Visconti, Scola or Comencini), partly because Francesco, giullare… more
Martin Scorsese
17Jul09
I’ve never seen the life of a saint treated on film with so little solemnity and so much warmth.
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Now in theaters: "Silent Light" (Reygadas, Mexico)
By Vadim Rizov on January 8, 2009
Silent Light is Carlos Reygadas' third and most overtly accomplished film; I also find it his least convincing. A healthy degree of skepticism is automatically called for whenever words like "elegiac
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By Hunter Duesing on November 18, 2009
One of my favorite movies of all time, THE FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS is one of the few movies I can think of that photographs the beauty of the human soul. Rossellini’s neo-realist style combined with… read review
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By Adam Suraf on March 29, 2009
Roberto Rossellini’s playful religious comedy, co-written by frequent collaborator Federico Fellini, features non-professional actors (actual monks) in the roles of St. Francis and his closest followers… read review
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